Startups Playbook: My Journey as a Self-Taught Media Entrepreneur
By Harun Momanyi | Founder & CEO, Tranquil Media Group
Back in June 2014, I got my first internship in the media industry without formally training at journalism school. I know it sounds crazy, but what’s even crazier is that I got a full-time job at a leading media house immediately after finishing my internship. I did not have a degree qualification, and I was only 19 at the time.
This was not purely out of luck, as I had chosen to ‘do hard things’ 2 years prior.
In early 2012, I started my personal WordPress blog, without having any idea of what I wanted to write about. I knew that I had the talent, as I had been topping my English class in both primary and high school.
Several months into blogging, I quickly realised that I had a passion for telling people’s stories. The best way to do so was through interviews. My first ever interviewee was an up-and-coming artist. Fast-forward to 2021, I have had conversations with some of the world’s most popular opinion leaders, influencers, actresses, fashion designers, musicians, and entrepreneurs.
So instead of worrying about being qualified to be a journalist, I took it upon myself to learn the skills I needed to be a successful digital journalist. By the time I was 7 months into blogging, I had a data entry clerk job, from which I earned enough savings to buy my own PC.
Living in Nairobi at the time was challenging because the salary barely covered my bills. Despite that, I held on until I got the greenlight to make a move for my first internship. For those two years, I had to manage time between my daily clerk job, blogging and studying. Due to unfavourable circumstances, I had to drop out, but that propelled me into my media journey.
The most valuable asset I had is the portfolio I built blogging. I had interviewed several local TV stars and proven that I could handle the job. One morning while browsing the IHub jobs board, I landed on a life-changing internship opportunity. It was for the now-defunct Destination Magazine.
I had been an avid follower of the magazine on Facebook, as they interviewed top international celebrities, despite being based in Nairobi. From Zoe Saldana to Tyler Perry, their covers were stunning.
While sending my expansive portfolio, I made sure that I sold them my aspirations and why the magazine was the right place for me to thrive — and I put everything into the take-away assignment they gave me prior to my interview.
Working with the magazine allowed me to explore both social media management and content creation for online and offline magazines. I did not limit myself; I was curious enough to just do it, no matter how hard it seemed. I learned on the job.
There I was, a kid from a less fortunate background, who would walk over 10 kilometres to find the nearest internet cafe to update his blog, now working with a reputable magazine. The tools of the trade I learnt there — from client communications to editing — prepared me for an epic journey in mainstream media. It catapulted me to the next level. I was given a chance to work with a diverse team, explore my capabilities in a bigger newsroom, and meet my idols in person.
Even then, I was still teaching myself hard things, and constantly seeking guidance from my bosses. While at it, I was nominated for Forbes Africa 30Under30 in 2018, and considered for the prestigious BBC Komla Dumor Award in the same year.
Having explored content creation for high traffic websites and YouTube channels, along with managing verified brand social media pages and live event coverage, I set out to explore entrepreneurship.
I knew that I needed the right set of skills to excel as an entrepreneur, which is why I chose to be part of the ALX Launchpad. The programme allowed me to interact with fellow young leaders, learn important skills such as communicating for impact, data analytics, leadership, and much more.
I also took part in leadership fellowships and bootcamps, all in the quest to prepare to be a media entrepreneur. As I value life-long learning, I applied for more opportunities. The more I put myself out there and the more relationships I built, the more recognition and opportunities I received.
The most important thing I have learnt is the power of networking.
Over the past three years, I’ve had the honour of being recognised as among the 100 Most Influential Young Kenyans by Avance Media; I’ve been selected as an Adweek Rising Mentee, where I’ve had the opportunity to learn from leading advertising industry executives; I’m part of the 37 Rare with Google Delegates from around EMEA, an official Google programme that instills leadership skills in underrepresented creatives; and I am also among the PMA Scholars of 2021, which has enabled me to gain advanced skills in product marketing, a fast-growing field in marketing.
All in all, the most important thing I have learnt is the power of networking. Most of the opportunities I received came from the relationships I had built in my networks. I also got to know that after studies, you should focus on gaining employability skills, as a degree alone isn’t enough.
Currently, I am the Founder & CEO of Tranquil Media Group, a new media company specialising in digital publishing, advertising and talent management. We are the first media startup from Kenya to be accepted into the JamLab Accelerator Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa, a six-month hothouse programme for journalism and media innovators. It is based at Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in the heart of Johannesburg.
We are actively working to disrupt the media landscape by creating world-class content that helps youth discover their potential. In a country where the media majorly focuses on political propaganda, we aim to give our readers value that impacts their lives. Our mission is to change the narrative while supporting young African content creators who wish to gain a footing in the creative economy.
Digital media is a fast-paced, thrilling environment, and it’s a privilege to be working at the cutting edge of this space. Being self-taught and self-made has come with its fair share of challenges, but it’s also led me to some incredible opportunities, for which I am deeply grateful. In many ways, the journey has just begun!